Satin Sheets and Strawberries (21 page)

#

“Please be careful with that,” Laura begged.

Logan and Josh glanced at the black steamer trunk they were pulling from the back of the Jeep. This was the first time Laura had expressed any concern over her possessions.

“What’s in it?” Josh asked curiously.

A guilty flash brightened her cheeks. “Family heirlooms.”

Josh and Logan tightened their grip on the leather handles and lifted the trunk out of the Jeep. Astonishment clouded their faces as they bore its full weight. The trunk felt empty.

Laura hurried before them and held the door. After seeing them safely into the house, she rushed up the steps ahead of them. “It goes up to the third floor.”

“Are you sure you want it on the third floor?” Logan asked.

She grasped her hand in front of her. “Please.”

Josh noticed her discomfort and quickly reassured her. “We’ll put it wherever you want it. It’s your house and your—” he tested the weight of the trunk again—”heirlooms.”

Laura read the unspoken question in his voice and flew up the stairs to the third floor. Quickly she opened the door to the room she had swept out earlier and stepped back. She bit her bottom lip as Josh and Logan lowered the trunk to the floor in the center of the room. “Thank you both.” With a nervous gesture she ushered them from the room, then turned off the hall light and practically dragged them back down the stairs. “How about if I make something to eat and drink?”

“Something cold to drink would be great, but I’m not hungry,” Logan said.

“Ditto for me,” Josh said, still looking puzzled. Laura maintained her rapid pace back to the kitchen. “It’ll be ready in a jiffy.”

“While you find the glasses,” Logan said, following her, “I’ll put the legs on the kitchen table. Josh, why don’t you go set up Laura’s bed for her?”

Josh glared at his friend. It would seem childish to demand to do the table, but the farther he was from Laura’s bed, the better it would be for his overactive hormones. The sight of her long, tanned legs was permanently engraved in his brain. He didn’t need the memory of her bed slats to drive him over the edge. He started to speak, but Logan just grinned at him and strolled into the kitchen.

#

Laura carried a tall glass of lemonade up to her bedroom. A muttered oath emerged from the corner of the room where Josh was battling with the oak headboard. “Need any help?”

Josh glanced up and forced a pleasant smile. The woman didn’t give up, he thought. Here he was, trying to be a helping friend, while she seduced him with icy drinks and damp wisps of hair clinging to her slender neck. “Grab that end of the board and hold it still,” he said.

She placed his drink on the windowsill and did as directed. The bed frame slid together without any more problems. She stepped out from between the frame as Josh carefully placed the slats across it. She helped him pick up the box spring and mattress and fit them on the framework. For the first time in five nights she’d be sleeping in her own bed. With impish delight she threw herself backward and bounced on the mattress.

Josh’s determination started to crumple. His hand trembled as he raised the glass to his lips and downed all of the icy liquid.

Laura bounced once and stilled, staring at Josh’s profile as he gulped the lemonade. His face held the sheen of perspiration and the beginning shadows of his beard. His head was thrown back and his eyes were closed in pleasure. She felt a faint quiver in her stomach as she realized Josh Langley was one very sexy man. He even made drinking old-fashioned lemonade seem sensual and exciting.

He lowered the empty glass and turned his head toward her.

Laura was rising from the mattress, but froze when she encountered his heated stare. Was that desire burning in his eyes? She cursed being nearsighted, and wondered if he’d consent to stay exactly like that while she rummaged through her purse for her glasses?

He frowned and pulled his gaze away from her. “Is there anything else you want done before I leave?”

So much for desire, she thought. “No, you and Logan handled everything. The rest can wait for another day. I’ve been up since four-thirty. All I want now is a hot shower and cool sheets.”

The glass practically cracked in Josh’s grip as he followed her from the room. His eyes locked on her swinging ponytail as they went back down the stairs. Logan was pushing the four wooden chairs around the table as they entered the kitchen. “Are you about ready, Logan?” he asked. “I think our hostess is dead on her feet.”

“Are you going to be okay here by yourself?” Logan asked.

Laura scowled at the two men. “I’ve been living alone for the past ten years. Why won’t I be okay in my own house?”

Josh wanted to voice his concern about the rumors of old man Peterson’s ghost, but kept his mouth closed. Dark circles had formed under Laura’s eyes, and her shoulders were drooping. She didn’t deserve a sleepless night after the day she had put in. Besides, there weren’t any such things as ghosts. “You did check the locks on both doors?” he couldn’t help asking.

“Yes, sir,” she snapped.

“What about the smoke detectors?” Logan asked.

“They were working fine this afternoon. So unless those little copper-top batteries aren’t doing their jobs, I should survive the night.”

Josh bit his cheek to prevent the chuckle from escaping. “Mrs. Billington said you’re not allowed to contact her. She’ll see you Sunday at the covered-dish dinner.”

“Why not? What covered-dish dinner?”

“She doesn’t want you to talk to her until after the scavenger hunt. That way no one can say she passed you any clues. The dinner is held in the park and it lasts all day.”

“Oh. So when is the hunt?”

“It starts Friday night.”

“Friday night? How are we supposed to see to find things?”

Josh glanced at Logan, then back to Laura. “Didn’t anyone tell you anything about the hunt?”

“Just that you would be my partner.” In a hesitant voice she added, “That is, unless you’ve changed your mind?”

“No, I haven’t changed my mind. We’re still partners.” He glanced at his watch and saw it was after nine o’clock. “Okay, partner, this is how it is. The hunt lasts for thirty-six hours straight. Nonstop. I want you to lock these doors and go to bed and sleep for at least eight hours. Tomorrow night I’ll stop by around six with a copy of last year’s clues so you can see what we’re up against.”

“You mean we aren’t going to be looking for leaves in the shapes of the seven wonders of the world, or a bug that has red on it?”

“Oh, Lord, an amateur! Kelli set me up with a girl scout.”

Laura’s temper started to rise. “I can decipher clues as well as the next guy. So, don’t you worry, mister sleuth. I’ll pull my weight.”

Logan coughed and headed out the back door. “Good night, Laura. I’ll tell Kelli you’re all settled in.”

Laura scowled at the swinging screen door. “Thanks, Logan.” She knew he had enjoyed the exchange between herself and Josh. He deserved to choke on his laughter.

“I’m sorry, Laura,” Josh said. “I didn’t mean to call you an amateur. It’s just that I hate to lose. What kind of an example would I set if the sheriff couldn’t solve most of the clues?”

She took a deep breath and relaxed. Josh was right. It was important that he at least do well, if not win, this hunt. He was going into it handicapped by being partnered with a newcomer. “If you would bring everything you can on past hunts, I’ll fix us dinner tomorrow night so we can discuss strategies.”

An unexpected happiness lightened his heart. “Sounds good. I’ll be here at six.” He walked to the door and opened it. “Lock up and go to bed.” He was outside when his voice floated back. “Can you cook?”

Laura chuckled. “You should have asked that before you accepted,” she said, then shut the solid inner door and clicked the lock.

Josh smiled into the darkness as he rounded the house. Logan, who was blocked in by the police cruiser, was leaning against his van. Josh stopped next to him and slumped against the van’s rear door. “I have only one question.”

Logan raised his eyebrows. “What’s that?”

“What do you suppose the ’family heirloom’ is?” Both men leaned their heads back to stare up at the third floor window. Minutes went by while they considered the question, then they stiffened as a light appeared in the window.

Josh held his breath as a shadow crossed in front of the light. Two minutes later the light was extinguished, leaving only Laura’s bedroom light burning. Josh dragged air into his lungs. No screams filled the night. “She must have checked on the ’heirloom.”’

“Must be valuable,” Logan muttered.

“Or fragile.”

“It really isn’t any of our business what it is. Josh glanced at his friend. “You’re right. Families have, and are entitled to, different things they value.” He pushed himself away from the van and headed for the cruiser. “See you around, Logan. Give Kelli and my goddaughter my love.”

Logan opened his door and started to climb in. “Josh?”

“Yeah?”

“When you find out, tell me what the hell’s in that trunk.”

. . .

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